Forging questions

C

cooks 7

Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
153
I am just getting started with stock removal, making throwing knifes and a tomohawk, I'll hopefully post some pics soon. I am interested in the forging threads though, especially people making their own forges, I would like to get into this eventually, it looks like more fun than stock removal.
I have a couple questions though, for those of you who forge, what do you temper in? i have been differentially heat treating my projects and tempering in my kitchen oven, i am using 4140 so temper temperature is low enough to reach, but with other steels tempering temp. is a lot higher right? what else can i use?
Also, what fuels can be used to forge, do most people use propane, or can you use any other fuel?
are there any good online resources for forge plans besides the search feature on this site? i have learned alot already, i am just wondering if i am missing a difinitive source for plans, tips, etc.
thanks in advance, you guys are great.
jon
 
Firstly, good luck with your forge building project & wellcome.
I built my propane forge a few months ago also this forum and these great guys helped me a lot. The Ron Reil's site (http://www.reil1.net/design1.shtml) and Mr. ( :D ) IG's site (http://indiangeorgesknives.com/) have very valuable info and plans. You may find a good tutorial in the Brian's site (http://metalcast.boorman.us/reil_1.html).

As for the tempering: you wont need anything but a kitchen oven for small objects, like knives or tomahawks (swords are a different story). I didnt need any temprature that a kitchen oven cant supply.

Also you may go for a naturalgas or coal forge, but propane is the most efficient source.

Ps: I couldn't understand how you Heat Treat your blades differentially if you dont have any forge. I guess you have a torch. Correct me if I'm wrong..
 
Thanks for the info and the suggested sites, I'll study them, as for how I am heat treating now, you are correct, I am using a oxy/acetelene torch with a rosebud for heating, it works, I used to do barge, repair/maintenance so i hav a lot of time behind a torch, i would like to do clay coat, furnace heated heat treating though, hopefully that would be a bit more reliable/repeatable.
again, thanks for the info
jon
 
You've probably already heard this a bunch but just in case... I highly recommend buying or borrowing a copy of Jim Hrisoulas' Complete Bladesmith. It has a lot of great info to get you started, including write-ups on the properties of various types of steel and plans to build your own coal OR gas forge. It can be had for $30-40 from amazon.com or ebay. Most sources like that will have it.
I just replaced my copy which I 'loaned' to a 'friend' about 5 years ago. Also if you look around at the websites of a lot of the knifemakers they have tutorials on various aspects of the trade. They are an invaluable resource.
-jeramy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top